College of DuPage, in partnership with the McAninch Arts Center and Cleve Carney Art
Gallery, is pleased to announce an exhibition of the largest private collection of
works by Frida Kahlo coming to the Glen Ellyn campus in summer 2020.

The 26-piece collection, on loan from the Museo Dolores Olmedo, features an array
of sketches and paintings spanning the career of Kahlo, who is considered one of Mexico’s
greatest artists. Best known for self-portraits highlighting themes of identity, politics,
sexuality and death, Kahlo channeled her childhood and personal struggles into her
art and became an icon of feminism, activism and Mexican heritage.

“This unique collection of works is deeply tied to Kahlo’s personal narrative. It
covers an arc of her life and career,” said Justin Witte, Cleve Carney Art Gallery
Director and exhibition curator. “It’s a full arc tied into her person and covers
her accident, which is when she started to create self-portraits.”

After surviving polio at age 6, Kahlo suffered life-threatening injuries in a streetcar
accident as a teenager. The accident left her with a broken spinal column and a pelvis
impaled by a steel handrail, among a myriad of other injuries. Bedridden for months,
Kahlo initially painted the plaster corsets which held her in place as she recovered.
Later, with the aid of a special easel that allowed her to paint lying down, Kahlo
began investigating self-portraiture as she gazed in a mirror attached to the ceiling.

The last area showing of Kahlo’s works was in 1978 at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary
Art in an exhibit that included pieces from the Museo Dolores Olmedo. The new immersive
Frida Kahlo exhibit, featuring a more diverse collection of works, will transform
the Cleve Carney Art Gallery, as well as the McAninch Arts Center Lobby and Belushi
Performance Hall spaces. This will allow guests to experience more fully Kahlo and
her continued worldwide influence.

“Frida was very much a person of the people and this intimate, educational showcase
brings works never before seen in the Chicago area to DuPage County,” said McAninch
Arts Center Director Diana Martinez.

Frida Kahlo – Works from the Dolores Olmedo Collection includes numerous opportunities
for educational and interpersonal engagement through activities and events in the
areas of Fine Arts, Culinary Arts, Humanities and History to complement viewing of
her art. In this spirit, the Nov. 10 announcement included floral arrangements created
by COD Horticulture students and inspired by Kahlo’s garden; a replica of one of Kahlo’s
most iconic dresses, which appeared on the cover of Vogue, created by the COD Fashion
Studies program; and a cake specially designed for the occasion by COD Culinary Arts
students. Additionally, Ballet Folkloric Quetzacoatl of Aurora closed the event with
a performance highlighting the rich culture of Mexico.

“Our goal through this exhibition is obviously to bring the art to the people, but
we want to build a community atmosphere around the works,” Martinez said. “We’ve taken
a good first step incorporating so many components in this official announcement,
and we will build on that through partnerships with various College academic programs,
local artists and community organizations in the months to come.”

Various lectures, workshops and other events during the Spring 2020 semester

First look for sponsors May 2020

Official exhibition opening June 2020

Closing event August 2020

Additional plans include a children’s area at the exhibit and collaborations with
various College of DuPage academic programs, which give people an opportunity to dive
deeper into Frida Kahlo’s story, Martinez said.

“We want patrons of the arts, students, faculty and community members to walk away
from this one-of-a-kind experience with a clearer understanding not only of Frida’s
work, but also her life and the time in which she lived,” she said.

The upcoming exhibition is made possible through the generous spirit of Milly and
Alan Peterson, founding community members of College of DuPage and lifetime patrons
of the McAninch Arts Center. Through their longtime friendship with the Carlos and
Lupe Phillips family, the Petersons successfully cultivated bringing this unique experience
to DuPage County and the greater Chicagoland area.

The Cleve Carney Art Gallery offers year-round visual art exhibitions showcasing regional,
national and international artists in an 1,850-square-foot gallery. Opened in 2013,
the space is named for philanthropist Cleve Carney, a contemporary art collector and
champion of the arts. Through its exhibitions and educational programming, Cleve Carney
Art Gallery provides participation opportunities for all segments of the community
with a goal to encourage the growth and understanding of contemporary art while cultivating
an appreciation for a variety of perspectives.

The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities,
which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people
and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information,
visit AtTheMAC.org, facebook.com/AtTheMAC or twitter.com/AtTheMAC.

College of DuPage Addison Center

College of DuPage Addison Center is located in the Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) on the east side of Swift Road, north of North Avenue and south of Army Trail Road. Swift Road is approximately 3/4 mile west of Route 53 or I-355.

College of DuPage Lisle location

The Lisle location is home to the Center for Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development. College of DuPage Lisle is located in the One Corporate Lakes building at the corner of Forbes and Cabot drives, just north of Warrenville Road.

College of DuPage Naperville Center

College of DuPage Naperville Center is located on the south side of Rickert Drive. Rickert Drive is accessed by turning north from 75th Street two miles west of Washington Street. From Route 59, travel east on 75th Street to Rickert Drive and turn north.

College of DuPage Westmont Center

College of DuPage Westmont Center is located on the west side of Pasquinelli Drive. Pasquinelli Drive is accessed by turning north from Ogden Avenue one block west of Route 83. The center entrance is immediately north of the bank.